15 Jul 2008

Faupala to be made Wallis king on July 25th

3:43 pm on 15 July 2008

Members from the traditional council of ministers on Wallis has announced that Kapiliele Faupala is to be the next king.

Local television says the coronation of Faupala is scheduled to take place on July the 25th.

For the past four years, the 68-year-old Faupala has been heading the Customary Council of Ministers which is recognised by the colonial power France.

He is to succeed Tomasi Kulimoetoke who died last year after 48 years in power and who signed a deal with Paris in 1961 to make the island an overseas territory.

Attempts to dislodge the previous king in 2005 failed after his supporters staged an armed rebellion.